The Department for Transport has slammed the brakes on their promise to electrify the UK’s railways, announcing plans to scrap work across the north, the midlands and south Wales.

Electric trains are better for the climate, better for our health and better for passengers. So we've teamed up with the Campaign for Better Transport to send an open later to the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling calling on him to reconsider.

It was published in the Times and signed by 18 MPs, union chiefs, council leaders and community groups. And it coincided with communities and campaigners relaying a giant plug along the Midlands Mainline from London to to Sheffield collecting names for our petition calling on the government to back rail electrification.

This is no time to cancel rail electrification. Public health, regional prosperity and climate change demand it.

Dear Chris Grayling

Tomorrow, local groups will board a train in London, carrying with them a giant electrical plug all the way to Sheffield. They'll be joined by groups taking similar action in the Lake District.

They’re doing so because sections of the Midland Mainline, Lakes Line and Great Western Mainline they live on had electrification plans unceremoniously scrapped by the Government in July. Plans have also been frozen for rail electrification in the Lake District. Local campaigners want a reversal of this decision - and they are right to.

For years, the government has promised to electrify these sections of track. The reasons are compelling.

First, diesel trains pollute our air and damage our health. By switching to electric trains we can improve the air we and our children breathe. No community should have to put up with dirty air with no end in sight.

Second, this cancellation continues the trend of underinvestment in transport infrastructure outside of London and the South East. We hear the Government talk about ‘rebalancing the economy’ and ‘Northern Powerhouse’ - we need action as well as words.

Third, carbon emissions from transport are rising in the UK - in stark contrast to electricity generation which is rapidly becoming cleaner. Electrifying our railways means our journeys can become part of the fight against climate change.

Thousands of members of the public recognise this, and have signed petitions hosted by 10:10, the Campaign for Better Transport and IPPR North to call for an urgent rethink from government to ensure our railways are fit for the 21st century.